Machine for punching tape for recording telegraphic characters



y 1958 K. JENSEN ET AL 2,842,203

momma FOR puncnmc TAPE FOR RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC CHARACTERS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 8, 1958 K. L. JENSEN ET AL 2,842,203

MACHINE FOR PUNCHING TAPE FOR RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC CHARACTERS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 8, 1958 K. L. JENSEN ETAL 2,842,203

MACHINE FOR PUNCHING TAPE FOR RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC CHARACTERS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 8, 1958 K. L. JENSEN ET AL 2,842,203

MACHINE FOR PUNCHING TAPE FOR RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC CHARACTERS Filed Jan. 14, 1955 4 Sheets$heet 4 United States Patent MACHINE FOR PUNCHING TAPE FOR RECORD- ING TELEGRAPHIC CHARACTERS Kai Leo Jensen and Gunner Julius Johannes Rosendahl, Copenhagen, Denmark, assignors to Det Store Nordiske Telegraf-Selskab (Aktieselskab), Copenhagen, Denmark, a limited-liability company of Denmark Application January 14, 1955, Serial No. 481,819

Claims priority, application Denmark January 30, 1954 12 Claims. (Cl. 164-114) The present invention relates to a machine for punching tape for recording telegraphic characters of different lengths, such as Morse code or cable code characters, controlled by telegraphic characters of a different nature, such as five-unit characters used in connection with teleprinters.

Such machines are known, which comprise a punching mechanism controlled by one set of combination members, and a tape feed mechanism controlled by a second set of combination members, and also a set of control members which determines for each character the adjusting of both sets of combination members and hence the punching as well as the advancing of the tape, and which in turn is controlled by a set of selection members, the position of which is determined by the telegraphic characters being received by the machine.

The present invention has for its object to attain an increase in the operational speed of the said machines and is based on the idea that the control members will more rapidly be serviceable for a readjustment of the first set of combination members, if the adjustment of the second set of combination members is retained for a short interval of time. t

According to the invention there is provided in connection with the second set of combination members, which controls the tape feed, a locking mechanism designed to maintain the adjusted combination members of the said set in fixed position, so that the control mem bers can be released as soon as the punching has been effected and before the tape is advanced.

In a machine, in which the second set of combination members is constituted in known manner by a plurality of parallel bars which are subject to action of individual springs andduring recording of a character-are held in inactive position against the spring action by means of a control member, excepting, however one individual bar which is moved into active position by its spring, wherefrom it is returned by a force derived from a motor driving the machine, according to the invention the locking mechanism is designed to comprise a set of locking members, one member for each of the said bars, which locking members by means of a motion transmitting mechanism are so connected to the driving motor that they are moved toward the bars subsequent to the adjustment of the latter, whereby they will engage the bars held by the control member and take over the retention of said bars, so that the control member can be released.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a machine for punching Morse code characters in a tape, controlled by a tape with five-unit characters,

Pig. 2 is a schematic top view of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the sensing mechanism of the machine, disposed at its right end,

' Fig. 4 is a part sectional side view of the locking mechanism of the machine, and

Fig. 5 is a front view of the same.

As will be seen from Fig. 1 the machine is mounted on a base 10, encasing an electric motor, which through a belt 12 and a pulley 14 drives the main shaft 16 of the machine. A sleeve 18 surrounding the shaft can be connected to said shaft by means of a coupling 20, which is engaged when the machine is started and disengaged when it is stopped, the shaft 16 continuing to rotate. In the sleeve 18 there are cut a number of cam grooves, from which the various parts of the machine are driven. Each cam groove is engaged by a roller, mounted on a swingable frame, the movement of which is transmitted through a link to the part of the machine which is to be moved from the said cam groove. In Fig. 1 one set only of such members is provided with reference numbers, 22 denoting the cam groove, 24 of the roller, 26 of the frame, and 28 the link. In the following figures distinctions have been made between the individual sets by the addition of letter indices.

The five-unit characters controlling the machine are punched in a paper tape 30, and the Morse code characters to be recorded are punched in a paper tape 32. Said tapes will be referred to as the incoming and the outgoing tape, respectively. The latter tape 32 is moved,

stepwise through a duct in a punching block 34, which performs a reciprocating movement during the operation of the machine. The punching is effected by means of punches disposed in the block 34, said punches being controlled by a set of combination bars 36, which-if not already projected-are advanced by means of a swingable flap 38 and maintained in a certain combination by a set of control members 40, which moves alternately up and down. There are provided approximately sixty members 40, corresponding to the number of different characters that the machine is capable of converting. As the length of the group of perforations in the tape 32 which indicates a character, e. g. a letter or a numeral, varies in accordance with the significance of the character, it must be possible to vary also the feed length of the said tape from one character to the following. This advance is determined by a second set of combination bars 42, which like the first set are advanced by the flap 38, if not already projected, whereas they may be moved back by means of individual springs 44, whereby, however, a combination of said bars for each character is retained by one of the control members 40, while one only is moved back.

The advancing of the tape 32 is effected by means of a small block 46, which is displaced forward and back on a rod 48 by means of a swinga'ble spring 50, the block 46 cooperating in a manner described hereinafter with feed apertures 52 at the centre line of the tape.

As long as characters are fed to the machine, the control members 40 will move up and down consecutively, each such movement corresponding to a character on the incoming tape 30. The extent of the aforesaid movements of the control members is controlled by a set of selection members, comprising five bars 54, normally held in projected position by means of springs 56.

The machine and its operation will now be more fully described with reference to Figs. 2-5.

The shaft 16, Fig. 2, is rotatably supported by bearings 58 and 60. Between said bearings the shaft is surrounded by the sleeve 18, at the left end of which the coupling 20 is disposed. The cam groove 22a, disposed at the extreme right, drives the rod 28a through the roller 24a, said rod being connected to the punching block 34. The main part of the latter is juxtaposed to the bars 36, whereas a part 62 protruding from the main part extends transversely over the bars 42. The paper tape duct denoted 64 extends through both parts. The cam groove denoted 22c imparts through the associated roller 24c and the associated frame 26c and rod 28c a swinging movement to an angle lever 66, which is swingable about a fixed vertical pivot 68, upon which there is also mounted a bow 70, to which the spring 50 is attached. The latter is pressed by means of a spiral spring 72, wound around the pivot 68, against a surface on the lever 66, whereby the spring 50 has a certain freedom of movement, which is necessary because the reciprocating movement of the block 46 must be of an extent varying with the length of the Morse code character last recorded on the outgoing tape 32.

The cam groove 22c actuates the flap 38 through its link 28s, a resilient member 74 being inserted in the connection in known manner.

In the punching block 34 there are provided twenty punches 35, disposed in two rows, in pairs above each other, ten in each row, which serve to effect the character punchings in the outgoing tape. Between said two rows there is provided a third row of eleven punches, having a smaller diameter and serving to punch the feed apertures 52 in said tape. The left ends of the bars 36, facing the punches, are bent in pairs towards one another and alternately cut otf to one half of the height so as to ensure proper cooperation with the said punches. Being previously known, this feature has not been shown in detail in the drawings.

At their left ends the bars 42 are U-shaped, as will be seen from Fig. 4, whereby an upwardly protruding portion 76 is provided, the uppermost end of which is disposed in a slit in a stationary plate 78. Together and in connection with a longitudinal slit 80 at right angles thereto the said slits constitute a so-called toothed rack in the plate 78. The forward movement of the block 46, downward in Fig. 2, is restricted by means of a fixed stop 82, schematically shown, whereas its movement in the opposite direction is restricted by the end portion 76 of one of the bars 42, when the latter is displaced to the rear, to the right in Fig. 2. The advancing of the outgoing tape is effected by means of a number of teeth 84 on the block 46, which engage the holes 52 produced in the tape by the third row of punches.

The upand downward movement performed by the control members 40 is derived from the cam groove 22h and transmitted through the link 28h to one arm of an angular lever 86, Fig. 3, mounted on a fixed pivot 88, and the other arm of which is pivotally connected with a bar 90, disposed below in the machine. The control members 40 have downwardly extending projections 92, sliding in guides not shown, which provide a parallel guiding of said members during their upand downward movement. In Fig 3, only a small length of the bar 90 is shown at its left end, but said bar extends below all the control members 40, and at its opposite end it is supported on a lever similar to the lever 86 heretofore described. The said two levers are so coupled together that they perform the same swinging movement, whereby a parallel movement up and down will be imparted to the bar 90. The projections 92 are subject to the action of fixed springs 94, which move them downwardly into abutment against the bar 90, see also Fig. 5, provided that they are not prevented therefrom by the selection bars 54. In Figs. 2 and 3, only one individual control member 40 has been shown.

Through the cam groove 22 and the link 28f a shaft 96 is turned stepwise forwardly by means of a lever 98, a pawl 100, and a pawl wheel 102. On the shaft 96 there is provided a wheel 104 carrying pin-shaped teeth which engage a series of feed apertures. 106 in the incoming tape 30 to provide step-by-step feeding of said tape.

Each five-unit character on the tape 30 consists of a number of perforations not exceeding five, disposed in a now transversely of the tape. For each advancing step of the wheel 104 a row of character perforations will be presented for sensing. The sensing is effected by means of pins 108 at the uppermost end of five sensing fingers 110, which are moved alternately up and down during the operation of the machine. The upward movement is effected by means of springs 112, whereas the downward movement is produced by a plate 114, which cooperates with backwardly protruding projections 116 on the fingers 110, and which is attached to a shaft 118, swingable in fixed bearings, and maintained in a swinging movement from the cam groove 22g through the link 28g and an arm 120 attached on the shaft 118. in addition to the said fingers 110 there is provided a sixth finger 122, the stop finger, which is capable of performing the same movement alternately up and down as the fingers 110, but is prevented therefrom as long as tape is coming in, because its pin coopcrates with a non-perforated area on the tape 30 and therefore will be permitted to move upwards only when the tape runs out. Thereby a latch 124, Fig. 2, is moved and disengages the coupling 20, so that the machine is stopped. This may be effected immediately, or for special reasons it may be somewhat delayed as described in the specification pertaining to applicants co-pending application Serial No. 481,880, filed January 14, 1955 and now abandoned.

On top the fingers 110 have laterally projecting tabs 126. Cooperating with each of said tabs there is provided a how 128, which is swingable on a shaft 130, one branch of the bow resting on the tab 126, whereas the other branch may actuate a projection 132 at the end of a selection bar 54. In Fig. 3 two bows 128 and two bars 54 only have been shown, but there is provided a total of five bows, one for each sensing finger 110 and for each bar 54.

The shaft 130 is secured at the top of a frame 134, mounted on a fixed shaft 136, to which there is imparted a rocking movement through the link 28d from the cam groove 2201'. When some combination of the fingers 110 has been moved upwardly in conformity with the character on the tape 30, some of the bows 128 will assume the position as shown, whereas others will have been swung somewhat away from said position in counterclockwise direction. When now the frame 134 through the rod 28d is swung in clockwise direction, the first mentioned bows 128 will cooperate with the projections 132 on the bars 54, which are thereby moved to the rear, whereas the others will not do so, because the end of their left branch will slide over the associated projection 132. Hereby the selection bars 54 are set to a certain combination, which is a factor in determining which of the control members 40 can be moved entirely downward, seeing that in their uppermost edges the bars 54 are provided with a series of notches 138, one of which will be placed below the said control member and permit the full movement. It should be noted that the right branch of the bows 128 will continue to rest against the tab 126 on the associated finger 110 during the swinging movement of the frame 134.

There will now be described the manner wherein a Morse code character is recorded on the outgoing tape 32 by punching, corresponding to the five-unit character disposed immediately above the pins 108 on the incoming tape 30.

After the punching block 34 has been moved forward, to the left in Fig. 2, the flap 38 is also moved forward, so that the combination bars 36 are moved forward, if not already in advanced position. All bars 36 will then be advanced. Shortly afterwards the control members 40 are lowered, but one such member only will be permitted to reach its lowermost position in the notch 130 in the selection bars 54 as described in the foregoing. The control member thus entirely lowered cooperates with teeth at the uppermost edge of certain of the combination bars 36 and thereby holds the latter in advanced position. The combination thereby selected corresponds tothe character on the incoming tape 30. When thereupon first the flap 38 and next the punching block 34 are moved back, the punches in the punching block which are juxtaposed to the arrested bars 36 will also be arrested and punch a certain combination of character apertures in the tape 32, since this tape, which is disposed in the paper tape duct 64, will take part in the movement of the punch ing block. The rest of the punches and the associated bars, however, will be pushed back by the paper tape.

When the flap 38 has been swung forward, all the combination bars 42 will be in advanced position against the action of their springs 44. When the entirely lowered control member 40 assumes its lowermost position, the lowermost edge of said member will engage narrow notches 140 in a number of the bars 42, as shown in Fig. 4. At this place, however, one of the bars will have a wide notch as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 4. This bar is hence moved back by its spring when the flap 38 is swung back, whereby its upright portion 76 enters the longitudinal slit 80 in the plate 78. When the punching block 34 is moved to the right in Fig. 2, whereby the punching of the tape 32 is elfected, the teeth 84 on the block 46 will disengage the feed apertures 52, and when said block 46 is now moved rearwardly, upwardly in Fig. 2, by the movement of the roller 24c in the cam groove 22c, the teeth 84 will be disengaged from the tape 32. The rearward movement of the block 46 is stopped by the projecting portion 76 on the selected bar 42, and when the punching block 34 is moved to the left in Fig. 2, the teeth 84 will reengage the feed apertures -2. During the continued operation of the machine the block 46 will again be moved forward, down in Fig. 2, to the fixed stop 82. It will thus be seen that the distance which the tape 32 has been advanced corresponds to the selected retracted bar 42 and consequently to the length of the character just punched in said tape.

In the five-unit code it is possible by the use of the maximum number of five perforations, representing a character, to obtain only a total of thirty-two different characters by different combinations of the perforations, which is insufficient for the transmission of letters as well as numerals (plus punctuation symbols). The five-unit system is therefore based on the sending of a shift-key symbol when changing from letters to numerals or vice versa, whereby the significance of the perforations is changed. Constructional provisions in regard thereto must be made as follows.

In addition to the control members 40 described in the foregoing there are provided two extra control members 40a and 40b, see Figs. 2 and 3. Furthermore, a

special bar 42a is provided in addition to the combination bars 42, which special bar functions in the same manner as those described in the foregoing, but is so positioned that through its upwardly protruding end portion 76a it obstructs any reciprocating movement of the block 46 and consequently the advancing of the outgoing tape 32. Besides, there is provided a special selection bar 5411, which unlike the others is not subject to action of a spring 56 nor actuated by the bows 128. When a shift-key symbol is produced on the tape 30, the bar 54a is displaced lengthwise either to the rear or in forward direction and is maintained in the position thereby obtained by means of a spring-actuated toggle joint mechanism, which comprises a small arm 142 having a rounded upper end engaging a recess 144 in the bar 54a. The lowermost part of the arm 142 ends in a knife edge, which rests in notches 146 in a stationary part 148. The arm 142 is subject to action of a spiral spring 150 attached to the arm at its central part and to a fixed part disposed below the arm in a vertical plane through the knife edge. The control members 40 comprise two groups corresponding to letters and numerals (plus punctuation symbols), respectively. For each incoming fiveunit character, which consequently may denote either a letter or a numeral, the selection bars 54 permit the downward movement of two control members, one from each of the aforesaid groups. Which of the two members 40 shall perform the entire movement, i. e. whether a letter or a numeral shall be recorded on the outgoing tape, is determined by the bar 54a, the latter having a number of notches 152, which determine the said selection. One such notch, only, will be seen in Fig. 3.

When a shift-key symbol is received, the selection bars 54 permit one of the extra control members 40a or 40b to be completely lowered, depending upon whether it is desired to change from letters to numerals or from numerals to letters. The members 40a and 40b are disposed above a notch 154 at the uppermost edge of the bar 540. As shown in Fig. 3, said notch has oblique lateral edges, and hence the bar 54a will be displaced either to the right or to the left, depending upon which of the members is lowered. In Fig. 3 the control member 40b has been lowered and the bar 54a displaced to the right, as indicated by the position of the aforesaid toggle joint mechanism. Both control members 40a and 4% permit the bar 42a to move back with the flap 38, so that both of them obstruct the advancing of the outgoing tape 32. Said two members do not cooperate with teeth on the combination bars 36, for which reason a punching of this tape is not effected, when the members 40a and 4% are lowered.

A machine similar to the one hitherto described, whereby, however, the punching of the Morse code tape 32 is not determined by selection members as those heretofore described but by means of keys on a key board, has been described in the specification pertaining to the British Patent No. 191,093.

The locking mechanism, which is characteristic of the invention and whereby the operational speed of the machine can be increased, will now be described.

The bars 42 and 42a are disposed at their foremost parts in a rectangular frame 158, swingable on a fixed shaft 156, to which frame there is imparted a rocking movement from the cam groove 22b through the link 28b, see Figs. 2, 4, and 5. In the uppermost part of the frame 158 there are carried a number of pawls 162 on a shaft 160, one pawl for each of the said bars. These pawls are subject to action of individual springs 164, which are attached in the frame 158. The noses 166 of the pawls are adapted to cooperate with recesses 168 in the uppermost edges of the bars. In Fig. 4 the nose 166 will be seen to cooperate with the notch 168, whereby the respective bar 42 is prevented from being moved back by its spring 44 when it is released and the flap 38 is in retracted position. The pawls 162 are angular, and their uppermost ends extend through a recess 170 in the frame 158, whereby the pawls can be swung at short distance only in a counter-clockwise direction on the shaft 160, when the frame is swung in clockwise direction by the rod 28b. The swinging movement of the frame 158 is so adapted by the shape of the cam groove 22b that the pawl noses 166 are swung downwardly towards the recess 168 and cooperate therewith immediately after the flap 38 has permitted the moving back of the selected bar 42 or 42a that is not held by a control member 40. The retention of the other bars 42 or 42a, however, is now taken over by the pawls 162, whereupon the control member 40 may commence its upward movement when the punching of the tape 32 has been effected, so that the control members will immediately be ready for a new selection. Thus, the mechanism heretofore described makes it possible for a new selection to be made, before the selected bar 42 or 42a has cooperated with the block 46 and thereby determined the extent of the advancing of the outgoing tape 32. After the tape has been advanced, the flap 38 is moved forward, to the left in Figs. 2 and 4, and thereby moves the selected bar 42 or 42a back into inactive position. The frame 158 can now be swung back in clockwise direction to raise the pawl noses 166 out of the respective notches 168, whereupon a new selection takes place.

In practice it has proved that the locking mechanism indicated by the present invention makes it possible to obtain an increase in the speed of the machine of not less than 60 percent as compared with a machine of the same construction but without locking mechanism.

The invention is not restricted to the described embodiment of the locking mechanism. The latter pertains to a certain constructional form of a code converter of a nature which is substantially known per se, but the mechanism described in the foregoing can be adapted without difficulty by persons skilled in the art to other code converters or perforators without departing from the principles indicated by the invention.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for punching tape for recording charactors of different group lengths, in combination a punch ing mechanism, a first set of combination members controlling said punching mechanism, a mechanism for intermittently feeding a tape through said punching mechanism after each punching operation, including means for varying the amount the tape is advanced, a second set of combination members controlling said tape feeding mechanism to determine the length of tape advanced, means for moving said combination members between an active and an inactive position, a set of control members, means for moving said control members between an active and an inactive position, resilient means urging the combination members of said second set to active position, said control members cooperating in their active position directly with both sets of combination members to releasably hold selected combination members in a set position to determine both the character to be punched and the amount the tape is to be advanced, and a separate locking mechanism independent of said control members and cooperating with said second set of combination members controlling the tape feed to maintain the selected combination of said second set of combination members in set position after release of both sets of combination members by the control members against the action of said resilient means, thereby permitting the control members to be moved away from the active position as soon as the punching has been effected and before the tape is advanced.

2. In a machine for punching tape to record thereon characters of different length, in combination a punching mechanism, a first set of substantially parallel bars movable longitudinally for controlling said punching mechanism, said bars being movable between an inactive and an active position to determine the character to be punched, a mechanism for intermittently feeding the tape through said punching mechanism after each punching operation, including means for varying the amount the tape is advanced, a second set of parallel bars movable longitudinally for controlling said feeding mechanism, the bars of said second set being selectively movable from an inactive r to an active position to determine the amount the tape is advanced, means for moving said bars between said active and inactive positions, a set of control members movable between an inactive and an active position and cooperating with both of said sets of bars to releasably hold selected ones of said bars in one of said positions to determine both the character to be punched and the amount the tape is to be advanced, resilient means urging the bars of said second set to active position, and a separate locking mechanism independent of said control members and cooperating only with said second set of bars which control the tape feed to maintain said bars in selected posi' tion after release of both sets of bars by the control members thereby permitting the control members to be released from active position as soon as the punching of the tape has been effected and before the tape has been advanced.

3. Tape punching mechanism according to claim 2, in which said locking mechanism comprises a plurality of locking members, one for each bar of said second set, said locking members being movable between a locking and a 8 releasing position, a motion transmitting mechanism operated in timed relation with the operation of said control members connected to said locking members to move them simultaneously into locking position after a selection of said bars has been made by said control members and tohold said bars locked during the feeding of the tape by said feeding mechanism.

4. Tape punching mechanism according to claim 3-, in which the bars of said second set are provided with abutments, and in which said locking members comprise pawls releasably engaging said abutments.

5. Tape punching mechanism according to claim 4 inwhich said pawls are carried by a pawl carrier movable todisengage said pawls from said bars after the tape has been advanced by thefeedingmechanism.

6. in a machine for converting from one type oi punched tape to another, in combination means for intermittently feeding an incoming punched tape, means for sensing the punching of said tape, a set of control members selectively actuated by said sensing means according to thepnnching sensed, a first set of combination members movable between active and inactive positions, mechanismcontrolled by said combination members for punching an outgoing tape, a second set of combination members movable between active and inactive positions, mechanism controlled by said second set of combination members intermittently to feed said outgoing tape a variable predetermined amount, setting means for moving said combination members in one direction means for biasing and individually moving each of said combination members of the second set in an opposite direction, said control members cooperating directly with said combination members to hold selected ones of said combination members of both sets momentarily in the position to which they have been moved by said setting means to determine both the character to be punched on said outgoing tape and the amount said outgoing tape is to be fed, means for operating said punching mechanism while selected combinertion members are thus held by said control members, means independent of said control members for locking the combination members of said second set after a selection has been made by said control members and to retain said combination members of the second set in selected position after they have been released by said control members, and means for operating said outgoing tape feeding mechanism to advance the outgoing tape after said combination members have been released by said control members but while the combination members of said second set are held by said locking mechanism.

7. A machine for punching tape to record telegraphic characters comprising a power source, a sleeve adapted to be coupled to said power source and being provided with cams, means to sense an incoming tape with recorded characters thereon, means to record comprising a recording tape, a set of punching combination members, a punching member carrying said recording tape and being provided with punches, said punching member being moved in and out of engagement with said punching combination members by a cam on said sleeve and associated linkage members to punch the recording tape, a recording tape feed member resiliently mounted and actuated by a cam on said sleeve and associated linkage, a second set of combination members controlling said recording tape feed member to determine the amount said recording tape is advanced. said second set of combination members being resiliently mounted and adapted to be moved into active position and a combination thereof retained in position as desired, means actuated by a cam on said sleeve and associated linkage to advance both sets of combination bars into set position simultaneously, control members disposed transversely to both sets of combination members and cooperating therewith to hold selected combination members from both sets in set position to determine both the character to be punched and the amount the recording tape is to be advanced, selection members actuated by said sensing means and controlling the setting of said control members in agreement with characters received by said sensing means, and a separate locking mechanism comprising a rockably mounted frame, a plurality of pawls equal in number to said second set of combination members and resiliently mounted on said rockable frame, a linkage system actuated by a cam on said sleeve and rocking said frame, whereby on the rocking of said frame a number of said pawls engage slots in corresponding combination members of said second set desired to be retained in position to determine the advance of said recording tape before said control members release said sets of combination members for return to initial position in preparation for selection of a new punching combination.

8. Machine for punching tape for recording characters of different length, comprising a punching mechanism, a first set of combination members controlling said punching mechanism, mechanism for intermittently feeding said tape through said punching mechanism after each punching operation, including means for varying the amount said tape is advanced, a second set of combination members controlling said feeding mechanism to determine the amount said tape is advanced, means for moving said combination members between an active and an inactive position, a set of movable control members cooperating in one position with both sets of combination members releasably to hold selected combination members in active position to determine both the character to be punched and the amount the tape is to be advanced, and a locking mechanism cooperating with said second set of combination members independently of the position of said control members to maintain the selected combination of said second set of combination members in set position after release of both sets of combination members by the control members, thereby permitting the control members to be released before said tape is advanced.

9. In a machine for punching tape for recording characters of different length, in combination a driving member, a punching mechanism driven from said driving member, a mechanism driven by said driving member for intermittently feeding said tape a variable predetermined amount through said punching mechanism, a first set of combination members controlling said punching mecha nism, a second set of combination members controlling said punching mechanism, a second set of combination members controlling said feeding mechanism so as to determine the amount said tape is advanced, means for moving said combination members between an active and an inactive position, a set of control members cooperating with both sets of combination members releasably to hold selected combination members in active position, and a locking mechanism driven separately from said driving member and cooperating with said 10 second set of combination members to maintain the selected combination thereof in set position after release of both sets of combination members by the control members.

10. In a machine for punching tape for recording characters of different length, comprising a driving member, a punching mechanism driven by said driving member, a mechanism driven from said driving member for intermittently feeding said tape a varying amount through said punching mechanism, a first set of combination members controlling said punching mechanism, a second set of combination members controlling said feeding mechanism as to the amount said tape is advanced, means for moving said combination members between an active and an inactive position, a set of control mem bers cooperating with both sets of combination members to releasably hold selected combination members in active position, and a locking mechanism driven from said driving member in timed relation to the operation of the punching mechanism and the feeding mechanism and cooperating with said second set of combination members to maintain the selected combination thereof in set position after release of both sets of combination members by the control members.

11. in a machine for punching tape for recording characters of dilferent length, comprising a driving member, a punching mechanism driven from said driving member, a mechanism driven from said driving member for intermittently feeding said tape a varying amount through said punching mechanism, a first set of combination members controlling said punching mechanism, a second set of combination members controlling said feeding mechanism as to the amount said tape is advanced, means for moving said combination members between an active and an inactive position, a set of control members cooperating with both sets of combination members to releasably hold selected combination members in an active position, and a locking mechanism driven separately from said driving member and comprising a number of locking members, each cooperating with a combination member of said second set to maintain it in set position after its release from the control member.

12. In a machine for punching tape according to claim 11, in which said locking members comprise pawls mounted pivotally in a swingable frame held in a rocking movement by the driving member, whereby said pawls are moved simultaneously into contact with and away from the combination members of said second set.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 472,326 Anderson Apr. 5, 1892 575,497 Storm Jan. 19, 1897 751,161 Gell Feb. 2, 1904 2,352,952 Haglund et al. July 4, 1944 

